1 Ocr., 1897.] QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. 299 
There are so many varieties of fodder that can be grown cheaply in this 
colony that it is needless for me to enumerate them. 
The foods that are most suitable to the soil—that will give the greatest 
return at the Jowest cost—are the ones which I would advise the farmers to 
produce. 
During the last few years ensilage has gained great favour as a cheap 
milk-producing fodder; but, with all its popularity, very little has been done 
in the way of conserving this valuable food, but I hope to see it taking a leading 
place among the various fodders within the next few years. : 
When green fodder is obtainable there is no need for ensilage, but unfor- 
tunately we cannot grow it all the year round, but, when it can be grown, it 
should be conserved in the form of ensilage for a time of need. 
The standard ration for a cow depends to a great extent on the percentage 
of protein matter. The following is considered a good daily ration for an 
ordinary-sized cow :—20 lb. dry matter, 2°5 albumenoids, 14°5 carbohydrates, 
0°50 fat. If feeding with ensilage: 44 1b. daily ; lucerne hay, 80 lb.; oaten hay, 
30 lb. ; green maize, Cape barley, rye, wheat, &c., 70 lb. 
The following is an extract from Bulletin No. 97, published by the New 
York Agricultural Experimental Station :— 
“ At the prices of foods assumed, there has always been a cheaper supply . 
of nutriment in the green fodder or in the silage than in the grain. The grain 
usually supplies a larger proportion of protein, and, when the amount of this 
important constituent is lacking in the coarse food, helps to adjust the ration to 
the supposedly proper balance. Alfalfa or oat-and-pea fodder contains, how- 
ever, as large a proportion of nitrogenous matter as do ordinary grain mixtures. 
Equal nutriment is, of course, always supplied in smaller bulk by grain than by 
the coarse foods, and is of necessity used to furnish the amount of digestible 
matter needed without increasing the bulk of the ration beyond what has been 
considered the proper limit. While a standard ration containing much grain 
may be suited to bring out the greatest production from the animal, it may 
under the same circumstances be much more profitable to feed a bulkier ration 
or a less concentrated ration of equal bulk, even with the assurance of a slightly 
diminished product. Owing to the ordinarily much cheaper supply of nutri- 
ment in the green fodders, it is important to consider any information which 
may help us to determine the relative amounts of grain and coarse foods that 
can be fed to best advantage under different conditions. The local conditions 
are so varying that careful consideration must be given to all data concerning 
foods. The economical feeder, by studying the records of all feeding trials, will 
obtain information of much more value than any he can get by simply reading 
over the summaries of average results. It is important to know what standard 
rations may be calculated to bring out the greatest product at the greatest 
average profit, but it is equally or more important to know what modifications 
of the general rule can be best made for individual conditions. Summaries 
and generalisations may outline the way, but a study of all available facts is 
necessary for the special knowledge essential to success.” 
Some years ago, Victorian dairymen fed very largely on molasses mixed 
with straw chaff, the results from which were excellent. I would certainly 
advise our farmers to give it a trial. 
The following is an extract from a report sent to the Marquis of Salisbury 
from H.B.M. Consul Powell in Germany :— 
“The following are the advantages stated by experimenters to accrue from 
the use of ‘ molasses-mull-fodder ’:— 
(1) Itis 50 per cent. cheaper than the best fat-producing food, and yet 
equal in nourishment. 
(2) lt tends to keep the animal in health, helps the digestion, and whets 
the appetite. 
(3) It is almost equal in nourishment to and isa good substitute for 
bran. 
